Tutor profile - Victoria

Victoria is a highly experienced and passionate English specialist with over twenty years teaching English at Key stage 3, 4 and 5 in outstanding London secondary schools, as well as over ten years successfully tutoring school entrance exams. She has taught the 11+, 13+ iGCSE, GCSE and A level and has been graded an Outstanding teacher.
Victoria has successfully prepared students for the 11+ and 13+ at selective and private London schools, identifying weaker areas and designing lessons which overcome these areas in order to succeed.
Victoria has a consistently excellent record of success at all levels, using bespoke and interactive activities with a focus on deepening mastery through challenging, well-paced sessions to secure skills and knowledge which enables academic success in a fun and engaging way. Victoria recently worked with two students who secured a place at Upper Latymer, with an emphasis on creative writing. Parental feedback positively highlighted how Victoria secured skills and effectively trained students for this paper by instilling enthusiasm and embedding confident writing skills in multiple genres. Has a solid track record of nurturing positive relationships with students of all abilities, and regular feedback from her students is that learning is carefully planned and they feel comfortable and at ease.

She has a patient and empathetic approach to learners, especially SEN students and those with mental health issues. Her experience as a Head of Year for ten years directly informs a student -centred approach to tailored learning, taking into account complex barriers to learning. Victoria has a wealth of experience in safeguarding and child protection issues, adapting and using a trauma- informed teaching approach when appropriate. She is highly skilled in motivating reluctant learners and those who have had gaps in their education. Victoria has also worked with a range of agencies and settings such as hospitals and alternative provisions to provide personalised learning for underachieving and vulnerable students who have gone on to successfully progress in English.

Victoria’s wealth of subject knowledge enthuses and positively impacts student’s confidence in reading and writing skills. Students regularly exceed target grades and recently, she worked with a GCSE retake student who progressed from a Level 3 to Level 6 over a three month period in English and as a direct result, achieved a place at a leading London college, focusing on exam technique and evaluating texts.
Another GCSE student achieved a level 9 in English, who had a target grade of 7 states, ‘Victoria provided invaluable guidance and support throughout my GCSE English journey, going above and beyond to ensure my success. Whether it was helping me with complex concepts, providing feedback on past papers or offering strategies for exam preparation, she equipped me with the tools and skills needed to excel.’

As a classroom practitioner, Victoria has been judged ALPS 1 in both English language and English Literature based on consistently above target class outcomes, showing outstanding teacher impact and value added to both KS3 and GCSE results. She has also been a facilitator at Kings College, University of London in their reading skills research project, which improves critical thinking and uses this approach in her English teaching. She has also worked on a series of GCSE and A level study guides at Random House publishers based on literary authors before embarking on her PGCE at the Institute of Education, London University.

Victoria is an excellent communicator, with a previous professional background in the theatre and TV which she draws on to deepen understanding of plays studied and is a warm, caring tutor who is committed to helping students, regardless of their starting point. Victoria is an avid reader and is also a member of a local theatre group. She has acted and worked behind the scenes on productions, and is currently coaching a group of directors for upcoming Arts festivals.